Crothersville-This morning, at approximately 12:40 a.m., the Indiana State Police responded to a two vehicle crash on US 31 near County Road 500 South in Jackson County that claimed the life of a three year old Seymour girl.

The initial investigation by Trooper Jacob Tolle indicated that a 2006 Jeep Liberty being operated by Brent A. Sawyer, age 21, Crothersville, Indiana was traveling southbound on US 31 when he lost control of the vehicle. Sawyer’s vehicle crossed the centerline into the path of a 2003 Ford Windstar being driven by Devin P. Bevers, age 30, Crothersville, Indiana that was traveling northbound on US 31. The vehicles collided nearly head on in the center of the roadway.

As a result of the collision, Bevers’ daughter, Tavaya A. Bevers, age 3, who was a back seat passenger in Bevers’ vehicle, sustained fatal injuries in the crash. She was transported by ambulance to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana where she passed away from injuries sustained in the crash. Tavaya Bevers was believed to be have been properly restrained in a child restraint when the crash occurred. Both drivers were checked out at the scene by medical personnel after sustaining minor injuries in the crash.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing. Toxicology tests on both drivers are pending.

Clinton, Houchen and Basham all winners in local contests but fail to take Indiana

Written by Administrator

Wednesday, 11 May 2016 11:56

Voters in Scott County have long bucked national trends when voting for candidates in national and state elections.

On Tuesday, May 3, Democrat voters put Hillary Clinton ahead of Bernie Sanders by percentages of 55 to 45%. Though she failed to carry the state of Indiana in the Democrat Primary, Clinton scored 300 more votes than the socialist-leaning Sanders, 1,588 to 1,288.

Statewide, Clinton lost the primary to Sanders. She got 297,150 votes to Sanders' 331,707. However, the two Democrat candidates split the number of delegates, Sanders getting 43 to Clinton's 37. Consequently, though the news wasn't good for Clinton, the defeat certainly didn't stop the former Secretary of State from adding a few more delegates to her total, which overshadows Sanders.

On the Republican side, activity was lively at Indiana voting sites. In Scott County, County Clerk Missy Applegate reported that she ordered more than the usual number of Republican ballots. Republican pollworkers still ran out of printed ballots at Vienna 3, Johnson and Finley. Applegate said more young – and some not-so-young - voters showed up and decided to take a Republican ticket this time around.

The majority certainly voted overwhelmingly for candidate Donald Trump. Trump got 1,929 votes or 65% of Scott County's ballots to 867 for Ted Cruz. Since all of the Republican candidates were still listed on the ballot, several people took other routes, 100 voting for former Ohio governor John Kasich, 28 for Dr. Ben Carson, 23 for Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, 9 for Marco Rubio, 5 for Jeb Bush and 2 for both New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Cruz's recently-selected vice presidential running mate Carly Fiorina.

In the seat for what will be Indiana junior U.S. Senator, Ninth District Congressman Todd Young was also an overwhelming winner, getting 2,256 votes in Scott County and 643,143 statewide. He defeated challenger Marlin Stutzman, who got only 509 votes in Scott County and 318,277 statewide.

On the Democrat ticket for the U.S. Senate office, former congressman Baron Hill received 502,933 votes in Indiana. Of those, 2,626 came from Scott County.

Contests in Congressional Districts 6 and 9 garnered local interest in both parties.

Democrat Danny Basham, Lexington Township Trustee, threw his hat in the ring early and worked hard. He made a good impression on Scott County voters, who gave him 64% of the votes cast for 789 total and a local win. District-wide, however, candidate Barry Welsh won with a total of 14,402 votes, though he only got 161 votes out of Scott County.

Complete local Democrat results for District 6 in the county and then district-wide were: Basham, 789/9,892; George T. Holland, 172/7,689; Bruce W. Peavler, 65/4,472; Ralph Spelbring, 40/3,096; and Welsh, 161/14,402.

For Republicans, incumbent D6 Congressman Luke Messer will be their fall nominee. Those results showed Messer getting 603 votes in the county and 79,623 District-wide. Candidates Charles Johnson Jr. and Jeff Smith received 209 and 213 local votes, respectively, and 10,197 and 13,071 District-wide.

In District 9, local Democrats agreed with fellow Dems district-wide that Shelli Yoder was their candidate. Those results locally and then district-wide were: Bob Kern, 178/7,214; James R. McClure Jr., 123/6,464; Bill Thomas, 119/4,926; and Yoder, 917/43,571.

Local Republicans supported a hometown girl, Erin Mount Houchen, in the District 9 race, giving her a local win, but Houchen lost to Trey Hollingsworth, a Jeffersonville businessman district-wide 30,090 to 40,269.

In Indiana's Governor race, Democrat John Gregg got 2,468 votes from Scott County and a total statewide of 533,753. Republican incumbent Michael Pence received 2,320 votes locally and 796,042 statewide.

In the District 66 election, Democrat incumbent Terry Goodin received 2,931 votes in Scott County and 6,284 votes district-wide. Republican Joe Van Wye received 2,075 votes in Scott County, and a total of 6,436 district-wide.

A note of interest: Third party candidates can still be added to the statewide ballot for the November 1 General Election. They have until June 30 to qualify and register. Write-in candidates can be added as late as July 5.